In this review, we will be comparing Ultra Bookshelf and Motion 35XTi, two Passive Bookshelf speakers from SVS and MartinLogan. Let's have a brief look at the main features
of SVS Ultra Bookshelf and MartinLogan 35XTi first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
What size room are the SVS Ultra Bookshelf and MartinLogan 35XTi speakers good for?
The size of the room in which you are planning to use these loudspeakers is an important decision factor. Here we have compared their suitability to various sizes of environments considering their size and max power parameters:
In the following sections, we will get into more detail in order to better understand how the SVS Ultra Bookshelf and MartinLogan 35XTi compare and hopefully end up with enough arguments to decide which one of these loudspeakers is the better choice for you.
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Drivers
Both Ultra Bookshelf and Motion 35XTi are 2-way speakers.
| Driver |
SVS Ultra Bookshelf |
MartinLogan 35XTi |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1.25 x 2.4-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 6.5-inch
|
1 x 6.5-inch
|
Ultra Bookshelf features a 1" aluminum Hard-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 6.5" Composite glass-fiber Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2000Hz. On the other hand, the Motion 35XTi features a 1.25 x 2.4" Folded Motion XT Tweeter and 1 x 6.5" Aluminum Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2200Hz.
Frequency Response
Ultra Bookshelf has a frequency range of 45-32k Hz whereas Motion 35XTi has a frequency range of 50-25k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 45Hz, the Ultra Bookshelf can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the Motion 35XTi's min frequency of 50Hz.
Below graphs depict how these two speakers compare with the max, min and average values of the Min and Max Frequencies of other speakers in the Bookshelf class in our database.
Low Frequency
Bookshelf Speakers
High Frequency
Bookshelf Speakers
None of these speakers achieves full range experience which is commonly agreed as 20Hz-20kHz. In order to achieve lower lows / deeper bass, we recommend you pair these with a subwoofer. Visit our Powered Subwoofers section to find out more about the available options.
Impedance and Sensitivity
Ultra Bookshelf is a 8 ohms speaker compared to the Motion 35XTi which has a nominal impedance of 4 ohms. Lower impedance speakers, especially the ones that are rated at 4 ohms may put more pressure on the amplifier unit especially when played at high volume levels, so make sure the amp you pair with the Motion 35XTi can provide this impedance level.
These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. Ultra Bookshelf sensitivity is rated at 87 dB and the Motion 35XTi's is rated at 92 dB. This 5 dB difference makes the MartinLogan 35XTi a more sensitive speaker compared to SVS Ultra Bookshelf, hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.
Sensitivity
Bookshelf Speakers
Power Range
Power
range is the range of input power in watts RMS that a loudspeaker is designed to handle. While using an amplifier within this range ensures the nominal performance , inputting a power that is higher than the max wattage can result in a damaged speaker.
Ultra Bookshelf can handle a max power of 250 watts RMS from the amp the whereas Ultra Bookshelf has a max power handling value of 150 watts RMS , 100 watts less than the Motion 35XTi.
Keep in mind that a higher max power handling value doesn't necessarily make that a louder speaker
compared to a lower max handling speaker. Loudness or the sound level is also impacted by parameters
such as Impedance, sensitivity and system efficiencies.
Input Type and Bi-Amping / Bi-Wiring
Both Ultra Bookshelf and Motion 35XTi features dual binding post speaker terminals for bi-amping or bi-wiring.
SVS Ultra Bookshelf's 5-way post terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring
MartinLogan 35XTi's Custom 5-way bi-wire tool-less binding posts terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Both Ultra Bookshelf and Motion 35XTi have rear firing ports. Rear ported speakers generally need more room between the backside of the speaker and the wall compared to sealed and front/bottom ported speakers. Placing the speakers too close to the walls may cause the bass to sound boomy.
If you are limited in space and can't get the speakers away from the backwall, check our Speakers with Front Firing Ports page.
Physical Specs
Size of a speaker can sometimes become an important decision factor due to space constraints or in some cases purely for esthetic reasons. In this section, we are going to compare SVS Ultra Bookshelf's and MartinLogan 35XTi's external dimensions. SVS Ultra Bookshelf has external dimensions of 380.0 x 218.0 x 281.0mm ( 14-15/16 x 8-9/16 x 11-1/16inch) whereas MartinLogan 35XTi has external dimensions of 343.0 x 192.0 x 300.0mm ( 13.5 x 7.5 x 11.8inch) .
MartinLogan 35XTi is 26mm narrower and 37mm shorter than SVS Ultra Bookshelf but it is also 19mm deeper.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of SVS Ultra Bookshelf and MartinLogan 35XTi in scale.
Comparison image of SVS Ultra Bookshelf and MartinLogan 35XTi Size and External Dimensions
Base Surface Area Comparison
Base surface area of a loudspeaker may become a determining factor when the space in your room or desk is limited.
The base surface area of the SVS Ultra Bookshelf is approximately 612.6cm2 / 95.0inch2 and base area of the MartinLogan 35XTi is approximately 576.0cm2 / 89.3inch2. The Ultra Bookshelf requires 6% more surface area than the Motion 35XTi which gives it a small disadvantage on placement in tight spaces.
Here is an another comparison that shows both speakers on a BDI Octave Media Cabinet, next to a standard size amplifier and turntable in scale:
Size Comparison image of SVS Ultra Bookshelf and MartinLogan 35XTi on a Media Console
Weight Comparison The weight of a loudspeaker can become an important factor if you need to move and reposition the unit often. Weight of a speaker can also "sometimes" be an indicator of the rigidity of the enclosure and the quality of the internal components used. The SVS Ultra Bookshelf weighs 8.64kg / 19lbs and the MartinLogan 35XTi weighs 8.40kg / 18.5lbs. This makes the Ultra Bookshelf 3% heavier than the Motion 35XTi.
Here is a comparison of how Ultra Bookshelf and Motion 35XTi's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Bookshelf class.
Weight
All Bookshelf Speakers
What's in the Box of SVS Ultra Bookshelf?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of Ultra Bookshelf:
2 Bookshelf loudspeakers2 Grilles8 Rubber feet2 Terminal jumpers (pre-installed)Owners ManualSVS brochureOnline Product Registration Card
What's in the Box of MartinLogan 35XTi?
Here are the items that come with the Motion 35XTi:
Bookshelf loudspeaker Grille 4 Rubber feet 2 Jumper-straps (pre-installed) Users Manual Warranty/Registration Information
 Nominal Impedance |
8 ohms
vs
4 ohms
|
Less selective with amplifiers |
 Low Frequency Response |
45 Hz
vs
50 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
32k Hz
vs
25k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Price per pair* |
1200USD
vs
1500USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
 Max Input Power |
250 watts
vs
150 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Sensitivity |
92 dB
vs
87 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Height |
343mm
vs
380mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
576cm2 (192x300mm)
vs
612cm2 (218x281mm)
|
Takes less floor space |
| General |
SVS Ultra Bookshelf |
MartinLogan Motion 35XTi |
| Brand |
SVS |
MartinLogan |
| Speaker Type |
Bookshelf speakers |
Bookshelf speakers |
| Power Range |
20-150 watts |
20-250 watts |
| Sensitivity |
87 dB |
92 dB |
| Impedance |
8 ohms |
4 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
45-32k Hz |
50-25k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
6.5" |
6.5" |
| Woofer Composition |
Composite glass-fiber |
Aluminum |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
1.25 x 2.4" |
| Tweeter Type |
Hard-Dome |
Folded Motion XT |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Crossover Frequency |
2000Hz |
2200Hz |
| Firing Direction |
rear |
rear |
| Suggested Break-in Period |
n/a |
Allow 72 hours of break-in at 90 dB |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
380.0mm (15") |
343.0mm (13.5") |
| Width |
218.0mm (8.6") |
192.0mm (7.6") |
| Depth |
281.0mm (11.1") |
300.0mm (11.8") |
| Weight |
8.64kg (19lbs) |
8.40kg (18.5lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
MDF/Oak veneer |
MDF/Lacquer |
| Available Colors |
Black Oak,Piano Gloss Black,Piano Gloss White |
Gloss Black, Matt White, Red Walnut |
| Mounting Bracket |
No |
No |
| Recommended Stand Height |
22-28" |
24-26" |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
Yes |
Yes |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |